John Y. R. Shen

John Yi Ran Shen was born to De Ren Shen, under-secretary of Agriculture of the Republic of China, and Pei Cheung Song, in Shanghai, China. He was the youngest of 5 siblings, with 3 older sisters and a half-brother.
John grew up in Jingshan district in Shanghai, China. The family moved to Taipei, Taiwan in 1949. John attended junior high school in Hong Kong, and returned to Taiwan in 1952 to attend high school and college and serve in the army. John loved to play the cornet and baritone as a young man and performed while in the army. He received a Bachelor's of Architecture in 1959 at National Cheng Kung University. He then moved to the United States where he received his Master's of Architecture from Cranbrook Academy of Art.
John and his wife, Theresa, were destined to be together. Their families were friends and the pair first met before Theresa, two years his junior, started college. The first day she entered National Cheng Kung University, John began courting her. They remained together through graduation and separate travels abroad. Finally in 1964 the loving couple was married in Detroit, Michigan and a few years later were blessed with three children Iris, Janis and David. In 1979, John fulfilled his dream of designing and building his own home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where he raised his children and enjoyed the natural surroundings. He filled the home with art and designed much of the furniture. For years, John and Theresa would host big gatherings of friends and bring their community together.
John loved his family deeply and was incredibly supportive of Theresa and their children in all of their endeavors. He and Theresa traveled the world extensively throughout their lives, exploring history, culture, and art together. In later years, they shared their own artistic inspirations and creations with each other through painting, writing and more.
John was an active member of the Chinese American community in the Detroit area. As an early member of the Association of Chinese Americans in Detroit (ACA), he designed the ACA logo and participated in many of the activities and events over the span of 50+ years. He was honored and proud to be selected to design the Chinese Ethnic Heritage Room at the Alex Manoogian Hall on Wayne State University's campus, hand-painting each ceiling tile with care, choosing the artwork on the walls, and designing the furniture within the room. He was the founding president of the National Cheng Kung University Alumni Association, and a member of the Chinese "FF" Fraternity.
John was a member of the American Institute of Architects throughout his life and continued to maintain his connections with Cranbrook as an alumnus. His architectural work includes such institutions as: the Detroit and Canada Tunnel and Plaza; the Detroit Science Center; University of Michigan Dental School; North Wing of the Detroit Institute of Arts; University of California-San Diego Campus Residence Halls; Eastern Michigan University Music Building; John E. Fetzer Business Development Center at Western Michigan University; Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit (West Bloomfield, MI); Stamford Town Center (Stamford, CT); First Federal Savings Building (Detroit); and Shifrin Willens Jewelry stores in the metropolitan Detroit area malls. He designed and built unique homes in the Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham and West Bloomfield areas and has remodeled buildings and homes around Metropolitan Detroit, as well as in New York and California. He also enjoyed mentoring and training young architects and sharing his philosophy about the architectural field.
John was also an artist. He was a painter, and his primary medium was oil. His works were exhibited in shows including College for Creative Studies, Wayne State University Community Art Gallery, South Oakland Art Association, Hannan Center's Ellen Kayrod Gallery (Detroit, MI), and Detroit Artists Market. His primary themes were nature, cultural stories from his childhood, and portraits. His many portraits provide insight into the Chinese community in Michigan. He was also an avid photographer and captured much of the Chinese community and cultural history. Upon his passing, he was in the process of sorting through thousands of photos to give to his friends, and he had three paintings-in-progress on his easels that his family hopes to have finished.
John is survived by his beloved wife Theresa and their children Iris Shen-Van Buren (Eric Van Buren), Janis Shen (Dylan Fusillo), David Shen (Josefina nee Diaz), his grandchildren Elena and Alex, two older sisters and many nieces and nephews.
John is preceded in death by his parents De Ren Shen (father) and Pei Cheung Song (mother), and his older brother and sister.
John will be greatly missed by all of the people whose lives he touched over his 88 years of life.
Family will receive friends on May 13, 2024 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am.
Holy Name Church, 630 Harmon Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009 on Monday,
Funeral Mass:
Monday, May 13, 2024, 10:00 am
Holy Name Church, 630 Harmon Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009
The Mass will be livestreamed, the link may be found HERE.
Funeral luncheon:
Monday, May 13, 2024, following the Mass. Please let the family know if you may be attending.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest that friends remember John through a donation to
Wayne State University's funds for the upkeep of the Chinese Ethnic Heritage Room in Alex Manoogian Hall. https://give.wayne.edu/campaigns/47197/donations/new